Colombo, February 11
The political crisis in Sri Lanka worsened today as President Chandrika Kumaratunga sacked 39 ministers in a move aimed at eroding the authority of her arch rival Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. The President, who dissolved parliament on Saturday and ordered fresh elections on April 2, three years ahead of schedule “has sacked 27 non-Cabinet ministers and 12 deputy ministers,” an official spokesman said.
“In view of the dissolution of parliament, I have decided to remove all non-Cabinet and deputy ministers by virtue of powers vested in me,” the spokesman quoted the President as saying in a statement.
Letters were being sent to junior ministers informing them of their removal, he said.
The political crisis erupted when the President took over three of Mr Wickremesinghe’s ministeries last November..
Ms Chandrika Kumaratunga today proposed the formation of a truce implementation committee for the implementation of the ceasefire agreement with the Tamil Tigers.
‘’Ms Kumaratunga expressed her commitment to the implementation of the ceasefire agreement during her meeting with the newly appointed head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLLM), Maj Gen Trond Furuhovde,’’ a release said here.
Ms Kumaratunga also ‘’discussed matters concerning the maintenance and implementation of the Ceasefire Agreement’’.
She also proposed the formation of a committee, comprising the Defence Secretary, the Service Commanders, a representative of the Peace Secretariat and senior representatives of the SLMM, the statement said and added the committee would meet on a regular basis to discuss matters relating to the truce implementation.
— PTI, UNI
